Surgical stapling device

Abstract

A reusable surgical device includes a housing or body that supports one or more thermal energy storage members that retain or store heat during a cleaning and sterilization process. The stored heat functions to evaporate water that remains within the body or housing of the surgical device after the cleaning and sterilization process is completed to minimize any likelihood of infection of a patient or damage to electronics within the surgical device that may result or occur due to the presence of the water within the surgical device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adapter assembly for a surgical device comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion adapted to releasably engage a reload assembly; 
 a hub supported on the proximal portion of the elongate body, the hub adapted to releasably engage a handle assembly; 
 a rotation knob rotatably fixed to the elongate body and rotatably supported about the hub, the rotation knob being rotatable to rotate the elongate body in relation to the hub; and 
 at least one thermal energy storage member supported within the rotation knob, the at least one thermal member having a high heat capacity. 
 
     
     
       2. The adapter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermal energy storage member is formed from a sugar alcohol material. 
     
     
       3. The adapter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sugar alcohol material is selected from the group consisting of xylitol and erythritol. 
     
     
       4. The adapter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sugar alcohol material is encapsulated in a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and steel. 
     
     
       5. The adapter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation knob includes an internal surface that defines at least one cavity and the at least one thermal energy storage member is received within the at least one cavity. 
     
     
       6. The adapter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one thermal energy storage member includes a plurality of thermal storage members and the at least one cavity includes a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
       7. The adapter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter assembly includes an anvil retainer, the anvil retainer projecting from the distal portion of the elongate body and being movable between advanced and retracted positions. 
     
     
       8. A surgical stapling device comprising:
 a handle assembly; 
 an adapter assembly releasably coupled to the handle assembly, the adapter assembly including:
 an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; 
 a hub supported on the proximal portion of the elongate body, the hub releasably engaged with the handle assembly; 
 a rotation knob rotatably fixed to the elongate body and rotatably supported about the hub, the rotation knob being rotatable to rotate the elongate body in relation to the hub; and 
 at least one thermal energy storage member supported within the rotation knob, the at least one thermal member having a high heat capacity; and 
 
 a reload assembly releasably coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body. 
 
     
     
       9. The surgical stapling device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one thermal energy storage member is formed from a sugar alcohol material. 
     
     
       10. The surgical stapling device of  claim 9 , wherein the sugar alcohol material is selected from the group consisting of xylitol and erythritol. 
     
     
       11. The surgical stapling device of  claim 9 , wherein the sugar alcohol material is encapsulated in a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and steel. 
     
     
       12. The surgical stapling device of  claim 8 , wherein the rotation knob includes an internal surface that defines at least one cavity and the at least one thermal energy storage member is received within the at least one cavity. 
     
     
       13. The surgical stapling device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one thermal energy storage member includes a plurality of thermal storage members and the at least one cavity includes a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
       14. The surgical stapling device of  claim 8 , wherein the adapter assembly includes an anvil retainer, the anvil retainer projecting from the distal portion of the elongate body and being movable between advanced and retracted positions. 
     
     
       15. The surgical stapling device of  claim 14 , further including an anvil assembly, the anvil assembly being releasably supported on the anvil retainer of the adapter assembly. 
     
     
       16. The surgical stapling device of  claim 8 , wherein the reload assembly includes a staple cartridge. 
     
     
       17. A surgical device comprising:
 a handle assembly; 
 a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being releasably coupled to the handle assembly; and 
 at least one thermal energy storage member supported by the housing, the at least one thermal member having a high heat capacity. 
 
     
     
       18. The surgical device of  claim 17 , further including a reload assembly releasably coupled to the distal portion of the housing. 
     
     
       19. The surgical device of  claim 17 , further including a rotation knob, the rotation knob being rotatably fixed to the housing and rotatable in relation to the handle assembly such that rotation of the rotatable knob rotates the housing in relation to the handle assembly. 
     
     
       20. The surgical device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one thermal energy source is supported within the rotation knob.